Electronic control device

Abstract

Electronic control device for single-cylinder or multicylinder autoignition reciprocating internal combustion engines/motors, wherein fuel is suppliable to the given combustion space by use of an injection valve and an injection pump, the injection pump exhibiting a control rod by displacement of which the fuel injection quantity is changeable, an actuator controlled by a control unit further engaging with the control rod, and the control unit being in operative connection with engine sensors, pickups and/or further actuators and, if and to the extent provided, with service (e.g., vehicle) pickups and/or displays and/or controls and/or actuators via inputs and outputs. The representation of a modular concept with a wide range of variation is to are changeable via the number and/or the allocation and/or the signal mode of the inputs and/or outputs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic control device suitable for controlling operation of a variety of autoignition reciprocating internal combustion engines used to power various equipment, said engines being of the type wherein fuel is delivered to at least one combustion chamber by use of an injection valve and an injection pump, the injection pump having a control rod by displacement of which the fuel injection quantity is changeable and a control rod actuator, said electronic control device comprising: an electronic control unit having inputs adapted for connection with engine operational sensors, service pickup and manual controls, at least one output connectable to a visual display and an output connected in controlling relation to said control rod actuator, said electronic control device being programed to control operation of a variety of engines and to control said engines in a variety of power supplying applications of said engines, said electronic control unit including stored engine torque curves for various engines and various power supplying applications of said engines and   control means for causing said electronic control unit to select the appropriate torque curve for a selected engine and a selected power supplying application.   
     
     
       2. The electronic control device of claims 1, wherein said control unit is adapted to the specification of signal modes, inputs and outputs and the configuration and activation of said inputs and outputs is accomplished by programming of said control unit. 
     
     
       3. The electronic control device of claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a plurality of speed control modes including variable-speed control, fixed-speed control, and minimum/maximum speed control. 
     
     
       4. The electronic control device of claim 3 wherein said speed control modes are arbitrarily selectable by a manually actuated control. 
     
     
       5. The electronic control device of claim 3 wherein said control unit has controller parameters which are adjustable for the optimal adjustment of said control device in dependence on at least one of a group of engine operating variables including speed, load and temperature and in dependence on at least one of a group of operational condition variables including starting, static condition, dynamic transition, steering, disturbance variables, speed and fuel quantity limiting and wherein adjustment of said controller parameters takes place continuously during engine operation. 
     
     
       6. The electron control device of claim 3 wherein various engine speed and memory functions are selectable within a speed control mode by an input from a control system from a group of control systems including manual control systems and service control systems. 
     
     
       7. The electronic control device of claim 1 wherein said control rod actuator is controlled by an electric circuit including at least two circuit control elements arranged in series in said electric circuit and wherein one of said circuit control elements is actuated in response to a predetermined overspeed condition. 
     
     
       8. The electronic control device of claim 1 wherein said control means permits an operator to switch engine operation from one stored torque curve to another stored torque curve during operation of said engine. 
     
     
       9. The electronic control device of claim 1 wherein said electronic control unit is programed for use in controlling operation of engines having different fuel injection systems. 
     
     
       10. The electronic control device of claim 1 wherein said control means automatically switches engine operation from one stored torque curve to another stored torque curve in response to a predetermined engine operating condition.